After everyone withdrew, Fu Zhi took advantage of the moment to bring Fu Tinghan back to the main tent. The grandfather and grandson needed to speak privately.

Though Zhao Hanzhang walked alongside Zhang Ru, her gaze remained partly on Fu Tinghan. Seeing the grandfather and grandson turn and leave in another direction, she couldn’t help pausing her steps.

Zhang Ru was just talking about how skilled her third brother was in martial arts when she saw Zhao Hanzhang looking back, so she also turned to look. She saw nothing and asked puzzled, “Governor Zhao?”

Zhao Hanzhang turned back. “It’s nothing. So you’re saying Third Young Master is also skilled with the spear?”

Zhang Ru said, “Among cavalry generals, six out of ten use spears.”

“Then what weapons do First Young Master and Second Young Master use?”

Zhang Ru said indifferently, “They can use anything.”

Which meant they weren’t particularly skilled with any one weapon.

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help laughing.

Yang Dan beside them couldn’t help but say, “Miss, you cannot speak thus. First Young Master’s swordsmanship is still quite good…”

Fan Ying, following on Zhao Hanzhang’s other side, found an opening to lower her voice and comfort her. “My lady, rest assured. Fu’an followed them. The young master won’t have any problems here.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly.

Fu Zhi brought Fu Tinghan back to the main tent. Seeing Fu’an following behind, he instructed him, “You didn’t eat well at the feast. Go to the kitchen and get another bowl of noodles.”

Fu’an couldn’t help looking at Fu Tinghan.

Only after Fu Tinghan nodded slightly did he bow and withdraw.

Fu Zhi watched this, feeling somewhat gratified. He had his grandson sit on the mat with him before asking, “How are you faring with Hanzhang?”

Fu Tinghan said, “Very well.”

Fu Zhi couldn’t help examining him. Seeing his calm expression, sitting there like a pine tree standing straight on a rock, he couldn’t help sighing and asking, “Still don’t remember things from before?”

Fu Tinghan was slightly surprised. Over the years, Fu Zhi had never asked about his memory. He’d thought the other party didn’t care. He hadn’t expected him to suddenly bring it up now.

Fu Tinghan hesitated a moment before honestly shaking his head. “I haven’t remembered yet.”

No wonder Fu Tinghan rarely took the initiative to write to him over these years. Every time there was a letter, it either came with Zhao Hanzhang’s letter or was a reply after he’d specifically written to inquire.

Sometimes he didn’t even write separately, but just added a few sentences at the end of Zhao Hanzhang’s letter. He rarely asked about his own parents and uncles. If Fu Zhi didn’t mention it, he probably wouldn’t even think of these people.

Fu Zhi frowned deeply, feeling even more worried and pained.

He hesitated for a long while before finally speaking. “Your parents have written. They’re struggling in Shu and want to return to Chang’an. It’s just that Chang’an is also not a place for long-term residence, so I’m thinking of having them go to Luoyang.”

Fu Tinghan was stunned, let alone here—even in modern times, he had no experience living with parents. For a moment he felt at a loss. “They want to live with me?”

Seeing his grandson’s confusion, Fu Zhi felt somewhat relieved and couldn’t help smiling a bit. “You’re family. Parents, children, and siblings living together—isn’t that as it should be?”

Fu Tinghan said nothing.

Fu Zhi said, “Hanzhang has completed her mourning period. Your ages are also appropriate. By rights, you should set a wedding date. Once your parents return, you can formally request a date and prepare for the wedding.”

Fu Tinghan pressed his lips together, unable to find a reason to refuse. After thinking for a long time, he came up with a reason that wasn’t really a reason. “Grandfather, Hanzhang is determined to pacify the world. Now that the world is not yet peaceful, how can we marry?”

Fu Zhi said, “What does the world being peaceful or not have to do with you marrying? If the world doesn’t stabilize for twenty years, will you also not marry for twenty years?”

Fu Tinghan calculated twenty years from now and this body’s age, then said, “That’s also not impossible.”

Fu Zhi: …

He had anger, but looking at the serious Fu Tinghan, he didn’t know how to release it.

Fu Zhi covered his face, deciding not to consult with him anymore, and said directly, “It’s settled then. Tomorrow I’ll discuss your wedding with Hanzhang. I’ll send people to fetch your parents. Once they arrive in Luoyang, we’ll choose an auspicious date for the marriage.”

He asked again, “Will you marry in Luoyang or return to Yuzhou?”

Before Fu Tinghan could speak, he said, “Forget it, I’ll discuss this with Hanzhang.”

Fu Tinghan closed his mouth that had just opened and pressed his lips together.

Fu Zhi took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and picked up another topic. “Minister Zhao wants to request His Majesty return to Luoyang. Is this Hanzhang’s idea, or did Zhao Zhongyu act on his own, or are they deceiving the emperor together?”

Fu Zhi’s eyes shone brightly as he stared at Fu Tinghan. Fu Tinghan only raised his head to glance at him before lowering his eyes.

Seeing Fu Tinghan avoid his gaze, Fu Zhi’s heart went cold, knowing it was the last possibility. He calmed himself and forced out a smile. “Now more than half of Sizhou is in her hands. Under her command she has fierce generals like Beigong Chun and Chen Wu. Stability in the Central Plains can be guaranteed. Luoyang has natural defenses and geographical advantages. It’s indeed most suitable as a capital. We should welcome His Majesty back to Luoyang.”

Fu Tinghan knew that if Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t dangled the carrot of Central Plains stability, Fu Zhi wouldn’t have joined this military campaign.

Thinking of Zhao Hanzhang’s eloquence, Fu Tinghan nodded. “You’re right. You could mention it to Hanzhang.”

Fu Zhi said irritably, “If I could easily speak up, why would I call you here?”

Looking at his still calm grandson, anger flared up. He tried hard to suppress it, his expression growing more severe. “Dalang, you’ve been studying since childhood and once had great ambitions. You cannot indulge in romantic sentiments and blindly follow Hanzhang. She’s excellent, but you should also have your own mind.”

Fu Tinghan nodded. “I have my own mind.”

“What mind do you have?” Fu Zhi still couldn’t suppress it, and his anger burst forth. “Last time in Luoyang I wanted to say this—you follow her around doing what? These years what have you done for the world, for the common people? She, a woman, has pacified Yuzhou and Sizhou. You just follow beside her, being called Young Master Fu, managing a few workshops. What will you use in the future to match her?”

Fu Tinghan opened his mouth but couldn’t speak for a long time.

Fu Zhi silently repeated “anger harms the body” twice in his heart, suppressing his fury before speaking earnestly again. “You must have your own mind. You’ve read so many years of books—surely they haven’t been completely useless. Think for yourself—should His Majesty return to Luoyang or not?”

Fu Tinghan pressed his lips together and asked, “Grandfather, are you loyal to the world or loyal to the Jin imperial house?”

Fu Zhi stared at him blankly. Fu Tinghan’s face showed no change, as calm as ever, but the question he asked made Fu Zhi’s heart tremble.

Fu Zhi’s gaze sharpened as he stared at him. “Why do you ask this?”

Fu Tinghan said, “If you’re loyal to the Jin imperial house, then pretend I never asked. If you’re loyal to the world, is the Jin imperial house being in power truly beneficial to the world’s common people?”

Fu Zhi gradually withdrew his anger and asked expressionlessly, “What about you? Are you loyal to the world or loyal to the Jin imperial house?”

Fu Tinghan said straightforwardly, “I’m loyal to the world.”

Fu Zhi’s emotions fluctuated twice before he asked, “Why?”

“The Jin imperial house isn’t worthy,” Fu Tinghan said candidly. “They also cannot achieve world stability and people’s peace.”